"Life During Wartime" by cofax, Fialka, Maria Nicole, and Marasmus [Discussion Post Two]

[wendelah1]

Despite the ongoing DDoS problems, I'd say discussion has been going well so far.

As before, post comments on specific sections with the title of the story on the subject line. If someone has already commented on the story you want to discuss, please help us by commenting in that thread, too. Post general comments anywhere you like.

The stories get more painful from here, but damn, what an engrossing read this series is. Wow. I'd remembered it was good but I'd almost forgotten just how scary and how heartbreaking this gets. The writing is concise yet vivid, with a cinematic quality to it. It feels like there's not a word wasted; it just pulls you in, then pulls you under.

Life During Wartime

9. Whose Frail Warmth

10. Cheating the God of Fire

11. Breakdown

12. Fimbulwinter

13. The Unfathomable Distance of Stars

14. Gonna Be Different This Time

Comments

The Unfathomable Distance of Stars

[estella-c.livejournal.com]

I have a special feeling about this story because it deals with the Samantha who appeared in the diner and ran from Mulder in panic. That's the Samantha who should have been honored as a real person, but CC dispensed with her quite dishonestly.

Imagine being drugged for your whole life, and having the courage to kick it just as the world ends. Imagine the double sense of panic, the yearning combined with the undeniable end of things. Samantha is a true sacrificial lamb, though to no merciful god.

And imagine living out the rituals of an affectionate marriage, bearing children, yet sensing that your mate had been more or less assigned to be your caregiver. Does Jason love Samantha? Yes, as two victimized human beings will love each other in intense circumstances; they are both human, their flesh is warm, they know each other better than any others. But they have been cheated of an honest human history. They never had romantic love, they never had a genuine argument, they never got a divorce. All they have are two sons that they now know will die.

I haven't had the time to contribute much to this conversation, and I apologize. But it's also true that I don't at present have the psychic energy to deal with the sadness.

Re: The Unfathomable Distance of Stars

[wendelah1]

And imagine living out the rituals of an affectionate marriage, bearing children, yet sensing that your mate had been more or less assigned to be your caregiver. Does Jason love Samantha? Yes, as two victimized human beings will love each other in intense circumstances; they are both human, their flesh is warm, they know each other better than any others. But they have been cheated of an honest human history. They never had romantic love, they never had a genuine argument, they never got a divorce. All they have are two sons that they now know will die.

That paragraph took my breath away.